Intolerable Cruelty

Martin Oaks 11/7/2026 8:19:50PM 8.4

**Omniscient Mastery** How easy everything seems when the Coen brothers are at the helm. Intolerable Cruelty is an underrated romantic black comedy that borders on perfection. It presents itself as a clear homage to the screwball comedies of Hollywood's first golden age, yet it is fortified with the unmistakable signature of one of contemporary cinema's finest directing duos. A key factor in its success is that the Coens write their scripts with specific actors in mind. By tailoring each role to the artistic capabilities of the cast, they ensure everything fits with mathematical precision, justifying even the most outlandish overacting. George Clooney is superb, and Catherine Zeta-Jones is simply unmatched. Miles Massey (George Clooney) is a successful, wealthy Los Angeles divorce attorney who has it all but suffers from profound existential boredom. His life takes a radical turn when he meets Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a shrewd professional gold digger seeking revenge after being left empty-handed in her latest divorce—precisely because of Massey. From that moment on, the two plunge into a ruthless and hilarious battle of the sexes filled with deception, extreme legal tactics, and an inevitable mutual attraction where neither side is willing to back down.